What a deck estimate is for
Two decks of the same size can be very different jobs: height, stairs, railing length and footings decide the hours. An estimate that lists each part with its quantity shows the customer what drives the price, and keeps railing and stairs from hiding inside a single square foot number that does not fit the next deck.
What to put on a deck estimate
- Deck size and height off the ground.
- Footings and framing spec.
- Decking material and fastening.
- Railing by the foot and stairs by the step.
- Tear-out, permit and inspections.
- When stain can go on a new wood deck.
A worked example
A 320 sq ft pressure-treated deck about four feet up, with 40 feet of wood railing and a short stair. Materials, labor, railing, stairs and permit use the calculator's typical prices.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decking and framing materials, pressure-treated pine * | 320 | sq ft | $4.50 | $1,440.00 |
| Deck build labor * | 320 | sq ft | $25.00 | $8,000.00 |
| Wood railing * | 40 | ft | $45.00 | $1,800.00 |
| Deck stairs * | 3 | each | $37.50 | $112.50 |
| Building permit * | 1 | each | $331.25 | $331.25 |
| Footings, dug and poured | 9 | each | Your price |
Footings change with height and soil. Price them as their own line so a taller deck does not quietly eat your margin.
* Typical price from our free deck cost calculator, which lists its sources. Your own costs and market come first.
Line items deck builders use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Footings, dug and poured | each | Depth to your local frost line and the inspector's rule. |
| Framing: posts, beams and joists | sq ft | Lumber grade and joist spacing. |
| Ledger with flashing | ft | Attached to the house with the fasteners code calls for. |
| Decking, pressure-treated | sq ft | Board width and fastening. |
| Decking, composite | sq ft | Brand, color and hidden or face fasteners. |
| Railing | ft | Wood, composite, aluminum or cable. |
| Stairs | each | Per step; width and landing. |
| Tear-out of old deck | sq ft | Demolition and haul-off. |
| Post caps and lighting | each | Low voltage or solar. |
| Skirting or lattice | ft | Around the base. |
| Permit and inspections | each | Footing, framing and final. |
| Stain and seal | sq ft | For wood decks, after the wood is ready. |
Terms and deposit language for deck
- Deposit. The deposit at signing orders lumber or composite and books the build week. Each state sets its own deposit limits on home improvement work.
- Payment. Balance due at the final inspection or when the deck is finished and walked.
- Warranty. You warrant the framing and your workmanship for a stated time. The decking maker warrants the boards. Normal checking, warping and weathering of wood are not defects.
- Permit and inspection dates are set by the town and can move the schedule.
- Buried lines and sprinkler pipe at footing locations are the owner's to have marked.
- Pressure-treated wood needs time to dry before stain; the timing is in the notes.
How to fill it in
- Put in your business details once; this browser keeps them for every template.
- Fill in the customer and the job.
- Change the line items to fit this job and add your prices.
- Set tax, the deposit and the good-until date.
- Print to PDF, download Word or CSV, or send it from Koira.
Free tools for deck
The same estimate for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpentry, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, duct cleaning, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, glass, gutter, handyman, holiday lighting, home inspection, hood cleaning, hvac, insulation, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, masonry, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, property maintenance, remodeling, restoration, roofing, security system, septic, siding, snow removal, solar, tile, tree service, water treatment, waterproofing, window cleaning, window and door.
More for deck builders: how deck builders run on Koira.